ANGLO-JAPANESE ALLIANCE.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17116, 11 April 1921, Page 7

ANGLO-JAPANESE ALLIANCE.

ATTITUDE OF AUSTRALIA. STATEMENT BY BARON HAYASBX (By 0»bl»-Pre!e Awocislion-CopyriirliU (Australian and N.Z. Cablo Association.) (Received April 10th, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, April 8. Baron Hayoshi, Japanese Ambassador to Britain, commenting on Mr Hughes's speoch regarding tho Anglo-Japaneso Allianco, states that such a clear expression of opinion will have good results and will bo welcomed in Japan. While the Alliance lasts, oapan is bound to remain on friendly terms with all the British Dominions. Ho says he is convinced that Australians will realise that Japan entertains no aggressive designs towards Australia. ("Tho Time*.") LONDON, April 8. "The Times," in an editorial, attaches the utmost importance to Mr Hughes's definition of the Australian attitude towards the Anglo-Japaneso Alliance ,and Imperial naval defence. It declares that tho speech should recall Britain, which is over-absorbed in local troubles and European complications, to a realisation of the world position of the British group of nations. Both America and Japan are rapidly building warships. If the old Btundards of sea power are still valid, tho Empiro must reconcile itself to losing its claim to unchallenged superiority in the Pacific, which is now the principal ocean. Possibly such standards no longer hold. The relations on which the Empire's States stand with America and Japan* there form a more important consideration. Britain's nature, also that of the Dominions, must undergo an almost demoniac change before tho thought of war between the 'navies of Englishspeaking people emerges from tho region of fantastic- incredibility. As far as Japan was concerned, Australia and New Zealand had not forgotten, nor were likely to forget, her services in securing their shores against the Germans. The doors of the Dominions were closed, however, and they naturally invite envious eyes, but Japan may recollect that the same applies to India as well as Japan, which may have a soothing influence. Mr Hughes decidedly states that Australia is favourable to renewing the Anglo-Japanese Alliance. Highly important is his claim that tho world's peace depends first on the British Empiro; secondly, on an Anglo-Franco-Ainerican understanding; and thirdly, ore* a renewal of the AngloJapanese treaty. These are axioms for the English-speaking world, whioh cannot compete in armaments without a« moral bankruptcy whioh is more ruinous than financial bankruptcy."